Patents Represented by Attorney Fredrikson & Byron, PA
  • Patent number: 8248611
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a handheld optical measuring device and method of measuring an optical property of a liquid sample. In some embodiments the optical measuring device includes a handheld controller module having an immersible sensor head and a sampling member including a sample cup and an attachment member that couples the sample cup to the handheld controller module. In some embodiments the attachment member is an elongated rigid member that is hingedly coupled to the controller module, thus providing a folding configuration for enclosing the sensor head with the sample cup during measurements, transportation, and/or storage. In some embodiments the attached sample cup provides a protective shell for the immersible sensor head during use and/or when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Christensen, Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher J. Owen
  • Patent number: 8240689
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system (55) is configured so as to contain all of the suspension motion control elements completely within the volume of the road wheel (100) while remotely locating the energy storage device (45) and damping device (42). An upright (60) comprises the spindle (61), brake caliper (105), and structure to hold a main strut shaft (70) parallel to a secondary strut shaft (67). The suspension's motion is controlled by the shafts which slide relative to the sprung part of the vehicle (1). The main strut shaft (70) includes a pumping piston (73). The fluid (91) displaced by the pumping piston (73) flows through a hydraulic connection (47) to a remote suspension module (40) mounted to the sprung part of the vehicle. The remote suspension module (40) hydraulically transmits the wheel motion to the remote energy storage device (45) and damping device (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Multimatic, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence J Holt, Thomas Alexander Sparrow
  • Patent number: 8240912
    Abstract: A non-contact measurement device includes two or more detectors for sensing scene data from corresponding measurement zones within a target scene. Devices further include an optical system for imaging scene data from the target scene onto the detectors. The optical system is configured to provide a different optical profile for each detector, such that the device can be used to provide a best-fit optical profile for a variety of non-contact applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Medwin E. Schreher, Kenneth A. Pomper
  • Patent number: 8234938
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an arrangement and a method for the automatic sampling in a storage tank system (1) interconnected to a pipe system (4) for supplying cleaning fluids, particularly in processing systems that are subject to high microbiological quality requirements in the food and beverage industry, particularly in breweries, with a storage tank system (1) that consists of several tanks and a sampling device (5) that is respectively associated with all tanks via permanent pipework. The invention ensures that the entire sampling system including all valves integrated therein can be cleaned and sterilized in a flow-through fashion regardless of the respective content of the tanks. Furthermore, the sampling should take place without a loss of the fluid to be sampled. This is procedurally achieved in that a volume flow Q(P) of the fluid (P) to be sampled is diverted from a selected tank (1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GEA Brewery Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Leo Grziwotz, Uwe Sobottka, Arno Peter
  • Patent number: 8236573
    Abstract: A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher Owen, Anna Pilipchenko
  • Patent number: 8216184
    Abstract: A removable clamp, for supporting a membrane filter, includes connected and opposing walls. A locking feature, which may be connected to an end of one of the walls, engages and disengages a terminal end of the other wall. When the filter is inserted between the opposing walls of the clamp, and the locking feature engages the terminal end of the other wall, an inner surface of each of the opposing walls is secured against corresponding major surfaces of the inserted filter, in order to support the filter without extending over vent holes of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 8216181
    Abstract: A removable clamp, for supporting a membrane filter in a medical infusion system, includes connected and opposing walls. A locking feature, which may be connected to an end of one of the walls, engages and disengages a terminal end of the other wall. The filter may be inserted between the opposing walls of the clamp, and an inner surface of each of the opposing walls may be secured against corresponding major surfaces of the inserted filter, by only pressing at least one of the opposing walls of the clamp toward the other of the opposing walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 8196639
    Abstract: A modular panel assembly that allows for rapid and relatively simple installation, while also providing flexibility for easy adaptation to any of a variety of constructions types. In some embodiments, the modular panel assembly involves panels which are prefabricated with panel connectors. Additionally, in some embodiments, the assembly involves two panel types that are substantially similar in their outward appearance, but differ internally so as to enable each of straight and non-straight surfaces for a structure being built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Bellcomb Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: David Bell Hartwell, Jason David Pobul, Sharon Marie Johnson
  • Patent number: 8191703
    Abstract: Methods for initiating one or more maintenance procedures on a conveyer system employ a load cell assembly that is supported by a link of a conveyor chain of the system in order to collect tension measurements. According to preferred methods, one or more threshold values for a rate of change in tension along particular portions of a circuit, around which the chain is driven, and/or for a variation in tension profile, from one cycle to another around the circuit, are established for comparison with tension measurements that are collected and/or processed by the load cell assembly, in order to detect operating issues and initiate the appropriate maintenance procedure(s). According to some methods, plots of the rate of change of tension versus time are generated and displayed for an operator to view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Joseph P. Erickson, Christopher J. Owen, Paul S. Schilling
  • Patent number: 8183973
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a highly dense and nano-grained NTC thermistor thick film and a method for preparing the same, and specifically, an NTC thermistor thick film vacuum deposited by spraying a spinel grained ceramic powder containing Ni and Mn on one side of the surface of a substrate using a room temperature powder spray in vacuum (AD) and a method for preparing the same. According to the present invention, a room temperature powder spray in vacuum (AD) may be used to perform a rapid deposition of NTC thermistor thick films and prepare a highly dense ceramic thick film, the NTC characteristic constant B which would be obtained by doping may be maximized without doping, demagnetization may be obtained without any additional heat treatment, and thus limitations on substrate that the conventional art has may be completely overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Jungho Ryu, Dong-Soo Park
  • Patent number: 8178352
    Abstract: A lab on a valve analytical system includes a rotary sample preparation assembly having a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of integral syringe pumps which can be aligned with passages formed within the stator. The stator passages can be connected with fluid inlet connector which connect the sample preparation assembly with fluid sources, and fluid outlet connectors which connect the sample preparation assembly with one or more wet chemical analytical devices. Some embodiments can include a mixer and optical sensor connected with the fluid outlets. One or more drive motors can be used to control simultaneous actuation of one or more of the syringe pumps, thereby providing for simultaneous delivery of metered volumes of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher Owen, William Christensen
  • Patent number: 8174371
    Abstract: A vibrating device that operates without the need for replacement batteries is disclosed. An apparatus is disclosed for generating electrical power and supplying electrical power to a portable vibrating device. A portable vibrating device in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is adapted to generate and store its own electrical energy, and is adapted to vibrate to alert a user of the device, or to provide various forms of stimulation to a user of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Schwieger
  • Patent number: 8166574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective helmet (10), particularly for motorcyclists or the like, having an exterior casing particularly configured as an exterior shell (11), and a lining element arrangement (12), which is received in the exterior casing and lines the same at least in some regions, wherein the lining element arrangement (12) has at least two lining elements, wherein at least one lining element is configured as a cushion element (14) filled with filling bodies (21), and at least one further lining element is configured as a lining shell element (17), wherein the cushion element (14) is surrounded at least along its contour by at least one lining shell element (17), which at least partially supports a contour surface of the cushion element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: OPED AG
    Inventor: Andreas Hassler
  • Patent number: 8167483
    Abstract: Temperature measurement instruments and methods are provided for visually identifying a selected area of a target with a light beam. After imaging infrared radiation from a measurement area on a target, a selected area satisfying a temperature criterion is determined. An actuator system moves a light beam relative to the instrument and measurement area to visually identify the selected area. In some embodiments the actuator system may repeatedly move the light beam to visually identify the selected area of the target as the instrument is moved and the selected area's position changes within the measurement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: John Steffen Jensen
  • Patent number: 8166828
    Abstract: Fluid flow meters and methods for measuring different aspects of fluid flow with a non-contact sensor are provided. In some cases a fluid flow gear meter is provided with a fluid chamber that is sealed with a cover portion carrying the non-contact sensor. An optional separation member may be located between the cover portion and the chamber to seal the chamber. In some cases the cover portion and/or separation member are configured to transmit visible light to allow viewing of the fluid chamber, through material selection and/or the presence of viewing cavities within the material. The flow meter is optionally configured to prevent or reduce the transmission of ambient environmental radiation into the flow meter to lessen the likelihood that it may adversely affect an optical non-contact sensor used to detect movement of gears within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Skirda, Richard Mehus, William M. Christensen, Scott Limback
  • Patent number: 8141407
    Abstract: A multi-tool having a plurality of tool-receipt openings adapted to receive respective tools. The multi-tool can be used on turret presses, single-station presses, other industrial presses, or other fabrication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Tool International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Lee, John H. Morehead, Richard L. Timp
  • Patent number: 8133301
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nanoporous hybrids formed by covalent bonding between a crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid and a gigantic mesoporous metal oxide, containing organic groups on the surface thereof, having a size of 10 nm or more. Since the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite has a large surface area, a multiple microporous structure, a large pore volume and includes an organic-inorganic hybrid having backbone flexibility, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite can be used as materials for storing liquids and gases, such as hydrogen, methane and the like, and can be used as adsorbents, separating materials, catalysts, and the like. Further, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous hybrids can be used in the application fields of biomolecule supporting, drug delivery, harmful material removal, nanoparticle supporter, sensors, catalysis, adsorbents, fluorescent materials, solar cells, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
    Inventors: Young Kyu Hwang, Jong San Jang, You Kyoung Seo, Ji Woong Yoon
  • Patent number: 8113671
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interior rear view mirror (01) for arrangement in the interior of a motor vehicle, with a mirror element (02) for observing the traffic following behind, wherein on the housing (03) of the interior rear view mirror (01), an additional device (04) is provided which can be adjusted between an inoperative position in the interior of the housing (03) and a usage position outside the housing (03), wherein the center of gravity (07) of the adjustably mounted additional device (04), during arrangement of the additional device (04) in the inoperative position, lies in a vertical plane which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and through the center of gravity (06) of the interior rear view mirror (01).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Donnelly Enigeering GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Lüftner, Hans-Joachim Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8111801
    Abstract: A radioisotope production gas target for producing gas isotopes such as C-11. The radioisotope production gas target includes a target chamber that is in the shape of a hollow cylinder and has a plurality of inner fins protruding from an inner surface thereof along a length thereof, and a body that is shaped of a hollow cylinder enclosing the target chamber, and has a target gas inlet for feeding target gas to a hollow region of the target chamber, a target gas outlet for collecting the target gas after a nuclear reaction occurs, and a first coolant inlet and a first coolant outlet respectively feeding and discharging a coolant flowing along an outer surface of the target chamber, and includes a thin metal sheet in front thereof through which a beam of protons passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Min Goo Hur, Sang Wook Kim, Seung Dae Yang
  • Patent number: 8112148
    Abstract: A medical device system and method for monitoring cardiac signal activity in patients with nervous system disorders. In some embodiments, a brain signal and a cardiac signal are received by a processor, brain events are identified in the brain signal, and the brain events are used to identify portions of the cardiac signal. In some embodiments, Event portions of the cardiac signal are identified corresponding to brain event time periods, and Inter-event portions are identified corresponding to time periods between brain events. An Inter-event heart-rate variability (HRV) calculation is performed using Inter-event portions of the cardiac signal, and an output of the medical device system is modified based upon the calculated Inter-event HRV according to certain embodiments of the invention. An Event HRV may also be calculated according to certain embodiments, and an output modified based on comparisons of the Event HRV to the Inter-event HRV, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson, Eric J. Panken, Nina M. Graves, Mark Turner Rise, Kevin L Bright, Chark Stanford